URBAN DESIGN EVENT

Conference Walks

Friday 27 September 2019 (All day) to Saturday 28 September 2019 (All day)
Birmingham

In fine Conference traditition, a series of walks exploring the delights of Birmingham!

SAVILLS FREE WALKING GUIDE TO BIRMINGHAM
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With many thanks to Savills!

MILLENIUM POINT WITH JOE HOLYOAK
Friday 17.30-18.15

Digbeth was a mediaeval suburb of Birmingham around the river Rea, and the location of the lord's deer park; later transformed by the industrial revolution into a manufacturing district. Firstly, the canal arrived, then the railways. Now it is a district in post-industrial transition on the edge of the city centre, and if High Speed 2 survives its inquiry, Digbeth is likely to be greatly affected by it, for better or worse. We shall walk from Millennium Point to the location of the conference dinner, The Old Library, across the HS2 terminal site, along streets and canal, under railway viaducts, and over the river, looking at prominent landmarks on the way.

BIRMINGHAM GUIDED WALK AND SKETCHING WITH MARK KELLY
Saturday 10.00-11.45

The urban design sketching walk, will follow the Birmingham Old Canal Line from Centenary Square past the historic Roundhouse, which is a crescent shaped Grade II* listed former horse stables building, used for pulling the canal barges. The walk will follow the urban design developments alongside the canal river boat service. The tour will stop in Brindley place public square and the restored Gas Basin docks, which span the Old Canal Line. Please wear walking shoes bring a camera and a pencil for this walking and sketching tour along Birminghams Old Canal Line.

  • 10.00  Meet at Birmingham Library entrance on Centenary Square
  • 10.10  Walk through city centre gardens to Arena
  • 10.20  Walk around the canal docks to the Roundhouse  Sketch 1
  • 10.45  Canal bridges and housing  Sketch 2
  • 11.10  Return to Brindley place along the canals by the Sea Life centre  Sketch 3
  • 11.30  Cross the Gas Basin bridge on the Old Canal Line  Sketch 4
  • 11.45  Return North to Centenary Square

CENTAL BIRMINGHAM GUIDED WALK WITH JOE HOLYOAK
Saturday 10.00-12.00

The centre of Birmingham is in an almost continuous state of redevelopment, with probably more of it happening currently than at any previous time. We shall walk through completed schemes (the Bull Ring, New Street Station, Brindleyplace, Centenary Square, Mailbox), and those under construction (Paradise, Arena Central). Birmingham would benefit from a period of stability, but stability is contrary to the city's nature, and we are unlikely to get it. We shall start at St Martin's church in the Bull Ring, and finish outside the Mailbox, two minutes walk from New Street Station.

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